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Casting Director Fired For 'Hillbilly' Call

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Feb 26, 2008 11:11 pm US/Eastern

Casting Director Fired For 'Hillbilly' Call

WEIRTON, W. Va. (KDKA) ― A Pittsburgh casting director has been fired for putting out an insensitive casting call for a horror movie being filmed locally.

The call, sent by Donna Belajac, sought extras for a West Virginia hollar scene. It asked for people with "physical abnormalities, unusual body shapes or facial features" even people who are "extraordinarily short or tall."

It was suggested on the Web site that "regular-looking" children should not to attend the casting call.

People in West Virginia find it offensive and view it as an effort to stereotype them.

Gov. Joseph Manchin responded to the casting call in a statement. "It's clear that they have no real understanding of who the people of West Virginia are and that's not only unfortunate, but in this case, offensive."

In response to casting call critics, the producers of the the yet-to-be-filmed movie say the motion picture is not set in West Virginia and the state won't be mentioned.

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